Can I Eat Sweets When I Have a Fever?

October 20, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the CDC, proper nutrition and hydration are vital for recovering from an illness like a fever. The question of whether you can eat sweets when you have a fever is common, and while tempting, it's a decision with significant health implications that can affect your body's recovery process.

Quick Summary

Eating sweets during a fever can hinder recovery by suppressing immune function and increasing inflammation. It's best to avoid high-sugar foods to help your body focus its energy on fighting the infection, while prioritizing nutrient-rich, hydrating alternatives.

Key Points

Immune System Suppression: Refined sugar can temporarily weaken the infection-fighting white blood cells, hindering your body's recovery during a fever.
Increased Inflammation: Consuming high-sugar foods promotes inflammation, adding stress to an already compromised immune system.
Dehydration Risk: Sugary drinks and sweets can worsen dehydration, which is a key concern during a fever, and can also lead to an upset stomach.
Nutrient-Dense Alternatives: Focus on nutrient-rich foods like soups, broths, and fruits to provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, and calories for a faster recovery.
Easy Digestion: Easy-to-digest foods, such as bananas, rice, and toast, are a better choice when your appetite is low compared to processed and fatty foods.
Hydration is Key: Prioritize water, herbal teas, and electrolyte-rich broths to stay properly hydrated and help regulate body temperature.

The Impact of Sugar on Your Immune System

When you're fighting a fever, your body's immune system is working overtime to combat the infection. Consuming large amounts of sugar, especially refined sugar found in sweets, can actively work against this process. Studies have shown that a high intake of sugar can temporarily suppress the function of white blood cells, which are critical for fighting off bacteria and viruses. This can weaken your immune response and potentially prolong your illness. Additionally, excess sugar can increase inflammation in the body, adding more stress to an already burdened system and diverting resources away from healing.

The Problem with Nutrient-Poor Calories

Beyond suppressing immune function, most sweets offer little to no nutritional value. Your body, with its increased metabolic rate during a fever, is burning extra calories and needs nutrient-dense fuel to support recovery. Junk food, candy, and sugary drinks provide empty calories that fail to supply the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your body desperately needs. Eating these foods means you're filling up on items that don't support your body's healing, rather than consuming beneficial foods like fruits, vegetables, and broths.

The Risk of Dehydration

Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do when you have a fever, as it helps regulate body temperature and flush out toxins. Sweets and sugary drinks, like soda, can actually worsen dehydration. They can also cause an upset stomach or diarrhea in some individuals, further increasing fluid loss. Opting for hydrating beverages like water, broths, and herbal teas is far more beneficial than sugary alternatives.

Better Food Choices When You Have a Fever

Rather than reaching for candy and cookies, focus on foods that support your immune system and are easy to digest. Nutrient-rich foods help provide the energy and resources your body needs to get back on its feet faster. Some of the best choices include:

Broths and soups: Chicken soup and broths are hydrating, easy on the stomach, and contain electrolytes and protein that support recovery.
Fruits rich in Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, berries, and kiwi are packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C, which can help boost immune function.
Soft, plain foods: If your appetite is low or you have an upset stomach, bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast can provide energy without causing irritation.
Probiotic-rich foods: Yogurt with live and active cultures can aid digestion and support gut health, which is closely linked to immune function.
Foods with natural sweetness: Instead of processed sweets, opt for natural sources of sugar like honey in tea to soothe a sore throat or fruit to satisfy a craving while getting nutrients.

Why to avoid processed and fried foods

Just as important as choosing the right foods is avoiding those that can make things worse. Fried and greasy foods are difficult for your body to digest, using up valuable energy that should be directed toward fighting the infection. Likewise, processed meats contain high levels of salt and preservatives that can cause inflammation and dehydration.


Feature	Sweets & Added Sugars	Nutritious Foods (e.g., fruit)
Immune System Impact	Can suppress white blood cell activity for hours.	Provides antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to boost immunity.
Inflammation	Increases inflammation in the body.	Often contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Nutritional Value	Offers little to no beneficial nutrients; empty calories.	Delivers essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Hydration Status	Can contribute to dehydration through fluid loss.	High water content in fruits and vegetables aids hydration.
Digestibility	Processed sugars and fats can be hard on the digestive system.	Generally easier to digest, especially soft fruits and broths.
Energy Source	Provides a quick spike and crash in blood sugar.	Supplies steady, sustained energy for recovery.

Conclusion: Prioritize Recovery Over Cravings

While the temptation to reach for a sugary treat during a fever is understandable, it is a choice that can work against your body's natural healing process. The refined sugars in sweets can weaken your immune system and promote inflammation, slowing down your recovery. Furthermore, they provide no valuable nutrients to fuel your body's fight against the illness and can contribute to dehydration. For faster healing, prioritize easy-to-digest, nutrient-rich foods and plenty of fluids. By making mindful dietary choices, you can better support your immune system and help your body get back to feeling healthy as quickly as possible. When in doubt, listen to your body and focus on foods that nourish rather than hinder recovery.

A note on ice cream and popsicles: While cold treats like sherbet and popsicles might offer temporary soothing for a sore throat, they should be consumed in moderation due to their high sugar content. Prioritizing rehydration with low-sugar, electrolyte-rich options is generally a better strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sugar, especially refined sugar, can suppress your immune system's white blood cells, which are needed to fight infection. It also promotes inflammation in the body, which can prolong your illness.

Eating too many sweets can weaken your immune response, potentially delaying your recovery. The high sugar content can also worsen dehydration and increase inflammation, putting extra strain on your body.

Opt for foods with natural sweetness, such as fresh fruits or a little honey in warm tea, which provide nutrients and support your body. Broths, soups, and easy-to-digest plain foods are also excellent choices.

While the cold might provide temporary relief for a sore throat, ice cream is high in sugar and fat, which can increase inflammation and be hard to digest. Low-sugar, water-based options like sherbet or popsicles are slightly better, but hydration is more important.

No, caffeinated and sugary drinks like soda can actually contribute to dehydration due to their diuretic effect and high sugar content. Water, electrolyte drinks, and herbal teas are much more effective for rehydration.

Yes, many fruits are excellent for a fever. They contain high water content for hydration and are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that support immune function. Easy-to-digest fruits like bananas and berries are particularly good.

This is a myth. During a fever, your body needs energy and nutrients to fight the infection. While a lack of appetite is normal, you should eat nourishing, easy-to-digest foods to fuel your immune system and aid recovery.